Artist Group Eyes Purchase of Building for Studio Space

A group of local artists, including some who formerly had studios in the Ward Bakery Building in Youngstown, is moving closer to acquiring a space where they can create, show and sell their work.

The group, which calls itself Loop Youngstown, was founded a year ago for this purpose, but its efforts have taken on new urgency in the wake of the sale of the Ward Bakery Building.

Loop leader Karen Schubert said the group has decided on a specific building and is currently putting together an offer and lining up financing. She would not reveal the location of the building because it is still on the market.

The Ward Bakery Building, 1024 Mahoning Ave., was sold in the spring, and its 20 or so tenants were evicted by mid-June. The new owner of the structure has not been revealed, and the sale has yet to be recorded by the county auditor.

The three-story structure, built in 1923, was originally a bakery. Its previous owners were James and Tamara Deeley. A city fire inspector found dozens of code violations in the building last year. The cost of bringing the 30,000-square-foot structure up to code was reportedly at least $200,000.

Schubert said Loop’s efforts to purchase its own building have been “more complicated than I thought it would be, and we are still negotiating the potential offer.”

Loop officials looked at several buildings before deciding on one.

A new wrinkle was added to its search Wednesday, when Schubert was contacted by another local building owner who offered to give the building to the artists group.

“I can’t predict what will come of that, but we will look at it,” said Schubert, who is a writer, educator and founding director of Lit Youngstown, a literary arts nonprofit.

A group of artists started conceptualizing Loop in response to cuts in arts courses at Youngstown State University, and the closure of Soap, which was the sole remaining art gallery in downtown Youngstown.

The closing of the Ward Bakery Building underscored the need to find places for artists, Schubert said. Loop soon turned its attention to acquiring an old building of its own that could be renovated at a reasonable cost.

“All of us on Team Loop had been to arts centers in all kinds of repurposed buildings, and we thought that would work here,” Schubert said.

To assess needs, the group sent a survey to local artists. Of the responses it received, 46 are looking for studio space, 32 for exhibition space, 13 for retail space, 38 for performance space and 33 for teaching space.

“We are looking to build a center where many kinds of arts can thrive and interact,” Schubert said.

Most of the survey responses were received before the Ward Bakery Building closed. Several former Ward tenants had been working with Loop because they are enthusiastic about the project, “but until the bakery closed, they didn’t need studio space,” Schubert said.

The Ward tenants had to be out of the building by June 10, and many have since found other spaces or retired.

“While I wish we had been up and running quickly enough to offer them a seamless transition, we weren’t quite ready,” Schubert said. “I know a few who have put their supplies in temporary storage and are waiting for us to open.” She could not give an exact count on the number of artists who have committed to renting space. 

Loop intends to have more than just studios in its building. Plans call for a gallery where artists can show and sell their work, classroom space and rooms for an artist-in-residence, Schubert said.

Focusing on Struthers

The group looked at many buildings across the Mahoning Valley before it focused its attention on Struthers. “We received a warm welcome in Struthers, and that has made a difference,” Schubert said.

The group has looked at several buiildings in that city. It requires “dividable” space that is ADA accessible, and has good air circulation, utilities, natural light and some parking, Shubert said.

“We visited several centers and have seen many workable models,” she said. “For example, SummitArt Space was an Akron Beacon Journal building [that has been] divided into office-sized studios. It’s fun to imagine what the Loop space can be.” 

Struthers Mayor Catherine Cercone Miller said Loop officials looked at several buildings in the city – including one prominent downtown structure that it quickly rejected.

“They looked at the McKinney Building on South Bridge Street, but when they turned the lights on in the basement a fire started,” Miller said. “We will probably have to demolish it.”

The McKinney Building most recently housed Los Gallos Mexican restaurant and, before that, The Cellar, a rock music venue. The city of Struthers owns the structure.

Cercone said she likes the idea of using artists to revitalize her city.

A few blocks away from the McKinney Building, another old structure is being gutted and renovated into art studios and gallery space. The former Eagles building at 118 S. Bridge St. has been undergoing renovation for over a year. Spearheading the project is building owner Kevin Walsh.

Meanwhile, Loop Youngstown has also mounted a capital campaign to raise money for a building. The group is targeting major donors, grant programs and loans, and plans to hold several fundraising events.

Loop will have a table at the Summer Festival of the Arts on July 27-28 at Wean Park in Youngstown. It will also take part in Tips for a Cause at Darlene Lounge in downtown Warren on Aug. 27 and will host a variety show and art raffle at Westside Bowl in Youngstown on Oct. 6.

Schubert said the group has already received a good deal of support from the community.

To donate to Loop and see a list of current donors, click HERE.

Pictured at top: The sale of the Ward Bakery Building in Youngstown, and the eviction of the artists who were tenants there, has lent urgency to a group’s effort to purchase a building that will house artists.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.